Admissions Requirements

The University at Buffalo requires a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent for admission. Applicants should also demonstrate aptitude in the physical sciences and mathematics, as evidenced by their undergraduate transcripts.

Application Deadline

January 15: Priority deadline for all applicants who wish to be considered for departmental, College and University assistantships, fellowships and scholarships.

The department continues reviewing applications after the priority deadline until all positions are filled. In general, acceptance letters are sent to qualified applicants from February to April.

Application Instructions

Students who wish to pursue a PhD, MA or MS degree in the Department of Chemistry must submit an online application via the GrAdMIT system:

Supplemental Materials

The following supporting materials must be included as part of the online application. Please carefully read the instructions on the online application for further details.

GRE Scores. Request an official electronic score report from Educational Testing Service (ETS). UseInstitution Code: 2925 andDepartment Code: 0301. Official electronic scores will be automatically linked to your online application. Please note GRE scores in the 50th percentile or higher are desirable. The Chemistry GRE subject test is strongly encouraged but not required.

Academic Transcripts. Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, including the English translation, if applicable.

Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation.* Request letters from three people who know your academic work or employment background. We suggest that you contact instructors or employers who know and will describe your unique qualities, especially relevant research experience and skills. These letters must be submitted electronically. Further instructions are included in the online application.

After an application has been submitted for formal review, applicants can view their application along with their supporting documents online by logging back into their application. For questions regarding how to access your online application, please visit the Graduate School.

*As of Fall 2011, Educational Testing Service (ETS) has introduced its Personal Potential Index (PPI) as part of the GRE package. While the PPI is strongly recommended, please note that it will not replace the three letters of recommendation needed. The three letters of recommendation are submitted by the applicant’s evaluators through GrAdmit.

Instructions for International Applicants

UB requires international applicants to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam. In addition to the above application materials, international applicants must also submit the following:

TOEFL Scores. Request an official copy from ETS and use Institution Code: 2925 and Department Code: 62. Official electronic scores will be automatically linked to your online application.

TOEFL Score Requirements

A TOEFL paper score of at least 550 or an iBT score of at least 90 with Speak Sections above 24 is required for standard admission. Most of the accepted international students would have obtained a paper TOEFL score of at least 600 or an iBT score of 100.

TOEFL Standard Admission Minima for UB:

550 - Paper Test

213 - Computer Test

79 - Internet Test

TOEFL Conditional Admissions Minima for UB:

500 - Paper Test

173 - Computer Test

60-78 - Internet Test

Note: IELTS​ Score of 6.5 or above can also be accepted in lieu of TOEFL

Application Fees

The graduate application fee is $75 U.S. (payable online or by check or money order made payable to the University at Buffalo). After you formally submit your application, you will receive an email with additional instructions for submitting your payment. Currently, UB accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Master's Applicant Fee Waiver Applicants to master's-level tracks who reside in New York State are eligible to apply for an application fee waiver courtesy of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office, provided they have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and meet the admissions deadlines.